

The Martin Lewis Podcast
BBC Radio 5 Live
Martin Lewis answers your financial questions, offering valuable money-saving tips.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 8, 2023 • 1h 3min
ISAs, ISAs, baby... cheap flights and pensions boost
The Martin Lewis Podcast is here. Founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis answers your ISA questions. Interest rates are up, so ISAs are back for many, although you need to sort them by 5 April or sooner. Martin shares his key ISA need-to-knows.Elsewhere in the podcast, you Tell Us what’s the oldest, working object you have in your home that you never use. Plus, when did you last use it? And how much are a home's unused items worth, in total? Nihal takes on Martin’s Money Mastermind, and this week is quizzed on how much of your private or company pension you are allowed to leave to your spouse in your will. Plus Martin’s podcast-exclusive tips – including how to get cheap EasyJet flights and an update on ‘How to Turn £800 into £5,500’. The government has now extended the deadline to buy back old National Insurance years until 31 July. If you're age 45 – 70, you may be able to boost your state pension by £1,000s. Producer: Isabelle Tudor

Mar 1, 2023 • 59min
Energy bill help, free wills and super service
The Martin Lewis Podcast is here – founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis joins BBC Radio 5live’s Nihal Arthanayake to answer your energy questions. The Energy Price Cap will fall by 23% in April 2023, to £3,280/year for a typical household, but energy bills are currently controlled by the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) – and this is set to rise by 20% from 1 April. This is why Martin has been urging Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to postpone the rise – a plea now backed by more than 85 other organisations. The energy secretary Grant Shapps said he is "very sympathetic" to the suggestions and he was working "hard" with Chancellor on the issue.Elsewhere in the podcast, ‘Tell Us’ what is your best ever experience of customer service? When did a firm go above and beyond and who was it with? Did it make you more loyal in future? And Nihal takes on Martin’s Money Mastermind – this week he’s quizzed on pensions.Plus Martin’s podcast exclusive money-saving tips, including changes to Chase, the app-based bank, which is a best or near best-buy in a good few categories. Also it’s Free Wills Month – it’s a charity event that lets you get solicitor-drafted wills for free. In return, they hope you'll make a donation or leave a 'bequest' in your will, leaving them something when you die.

Feb 22, 2023 • 1h 3min
Council tax, £1000s back? Money-piphany, energy bills
The Martin Lewis Podcast is here. Founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis answers your financial questions. In this episode we look at how to check if you could save on your council tax, ahead of the 5% rise due for many of us in April. Plus, the council tax discount many people can apply for - that they may know nothing about. Elsewhere in the podcast you Tell Us your best ‘Money-piphany’ - that moment when your eyes were opened to how something in debt or budgeting worked, which changed your approach to finances forever. Plus Nihal takes on Martin’s Money Mastermind and is quizzed about who currently sets the overall maximum amount that most consumers in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.

Feb 15, 2023 • 27min
How to turn £800 into £5,500 - Part Two
Long: The Martin Lewis Podcast is here. Founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis answers your questions on buying national insurance contribution years to top up your state pension.
As the buy-back deadline is fast approaching, Martin has an urgent plea for those aged between 45 and 70. They could be missing years off their state pension worth £1,000s, so check yours and your family and friends now.
Elsewhere in the show, why Martin has written to the chancellor to call for April's planned rise in the energy price guarantee to be scrapped. The average bill is expected to rise from £2,500 to £3,000 if the cap is amended.He called on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to halt the cap increase, saying it is no longer necessary because wholesale energy prices have "come down very substantially".Producer: Isabelle Tudor

Feb 8, 2023 • 44min
Beat water bill increases, student finance & biggest ever savings
The Martin Lewis Podcast is here. Founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis answers your financial questions, including several queries on upcoming changes to student finance.
Water bills could rise by 7.5% from April for households in England and Wales - the largest increase for nearly 20 years. The industry body Water UK says the rise due in April could take average water bills to nearly £450 a year because of rising energy costs. Martin shares all the hidden savings you could make, potentially saving thousands.
Elsewhere in the podcast, you Tell Us what single action you have taken to save, not earn, the biggest amount of money in one go. Nihal takes on Martin’s Money Mastermind and is quizzed about whether non-taxpayers get tax relief if they save into a pension.
Plus Martin has updates on cost-of-living payments for those in park homes or using heating oil or LPG.
Producer: Isabelle Tudor

5 snips
Feb 1, 2023 • 55min
Uni costs doubling, holiday must-dos and money fails
The Martin Lewis Podcast is here. Founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis answers your financial questions. You Tell Us your most embarrassing money fail, Nihal takes on Martin’s Money Mastermind and is quizzed on Section 75.

Jan 25, 2023 • 52min
Haggling help, LISAs, free cash for teens? And more…
The Martin Lewis Podcast is here. Founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis answers your financial questions. Elsewhere in the podcast, you Tell Us your best haggle. How much did you save, and what are your top haggling tips? Nihal takes on Martin’s Money Mastermind and is quizzed on Child Trust Funds. Martin confirms 14% broadband and mobile price hikes due April. He warns that for those in contract there's little you can do, except take note when that contract ends, and act then. But adds million of people are out of contract and urges them to ditch and switch or haggle. This week’s episode has all the information below will help you do that. Plus, Martin demands reforms to rules and thresholds linked to Lifetime ISAs (LISAs) as he warns they could be costing first-time buyers.

Jan 19, 2023 • 52min
Underpaid cash ISAs, broadband hike, WHAT-ER saving
Marin Lewis and Nihal Arthanayake's regular weekly dive into the world of money saving tips. This week Martin explains why you could be missing out if you have a cash ISA, how to beat inflation when it comes to your mobile phone and broadband and why a water meter could save you money.Plus bonus money saving tips that you can only hear on the podcast, Nihal tries his luck at Mastermind and you tell us about your positive money surprises.

Jan 11, 2023 • 54min
24,630 steps to sorting your debts, kid finance gurus and more
Martin Lewis joins Nihal Arthanayake to answer your debt-related questions. In this week’s “tell us” Martin asks how your kids have helped you with your finances. Plus Martin’s podcast-only money saving tips, including how to save on cinema tickets.

Jan 4, 2023 • 59min
Will energy prices rise or fall? 1p challenge and cash ISAs
Martin Lewis answers your financial questions including what are my rights if my parcel isn’t delivered? Why are wholesale gas prices falling but bills aren’t? Elsewhere in the podcast, ‘Tell Us’ what were your new year’s financial resolutions last year. Did you keep to them? How long did they last? Did it work? BBC Radio 5live’s Nihal Arthanayake takes on Martin’s Money Mastermind – he’s quizzed on savings and cash ISAs. Listen to find out how he gained 10% of a point. This week, Martin’s podcast exclusive money-saving tips include an urgent warning to high earners and the self-employed. Don't miss the 31 January 2023 self-assessment tax return deadline or risk a £100 fine. As well as a plea to anyone who pays for a NHS prescription. He estimates more than one million people in England missed out on savings of around £40 in the 12 months leading up to this April because they didn't buy a prescriptions 'season ticket'. Producer: Isabelle Tudor


